Croatian architectural lighting designer Dean Skira has just launched a project that proves that urban infrastructure can be more than just functional; it can also double as a dazzling work of art. In an art installation called Lighting Giants, Skira has transformed the Uljanik industrial shipyard in the city of Pula, Croatia into a glowing light performance synchronized to music. Over 70 Philips LED spotlights dramatically illuminate and transform eight shipyard machines into the likeness of colorful folded paper cranes.

Skira had entertained the idea of turning Pula’s shipyard cranes into monumental works of art since 2000, but it was only recently that he was able to gather the city support, funding, and technology needed to execute his vision. “Every day I looked at the cranes that dominate the skyline of Pula bay,” says Skira, who used to use the rowing club opposite the shipyard. “When the town authorities started considering relocating the shipyard, I came up with the idea of highlighting them instead.”

To create a dramatic lighting show, Skira used 73 smart Philips RBG LED spotlights that can be programmed to project 16,000 different variations of color and intensity to match a music soundtrack. Located on the edge of the Adriatic Sea, the shipyard cranes light up and change colors at dusk, creating bright and mesmerizing reflections in the water. Lighting Giants is scheduled to turn on three times each night for 15-minute intervals from 9PM until midnight.